The Blessing Of Children

We can read in the scriptures about the importance of children.  I look around and I am grateful for our own children and the gifts and talents they have.  I read a small piece  about children in the Bible, written by a woman who is a member of the Methodist Church.  It was nicely worded and I liked it a lot.

"Children were often inserted into Bible stories as objects to make a point to adults. Even our favorite stories about children who became great leaders, such as Moses and Jesus, were written long after the fact to make a strong case for their leadership."  (J. Ann Craig)

I love to watch what children do and to interact with them is a treat!
When I was serving as a full-time missionary for the LDS church I was assigned to a city where there were a lot of children at church.  I quickly learned that the children were my greatest allie when it came to learning the Dutch language because they are honest and would tell me if I was saying something wrong.  I did learn that their indication of my errors was through laughter.  That was okay and I appreciated their honesty.
I am grateful for the children in our lives.  I love our four children more than words can describe.  My life is trully blessed because of their love and the talents they share with me.

'Go Fish"

There is a card game that I have played literally thousands of times.  I played when I was young and I play it currently as an adult.
This card game can be played with multiple people and the pace of the game is dictated by the players themselves not by some sort of timer.  It is a relaxing game that doesn't require much 'brain power' and the best thing about it is that you can learn it when you are very young.
I have played 'Go Fish' with each of our children since they were little kids and have loved every minute of it.
Our youngest son Danny asked me if I wanted to play a game of cards with him.  I told him that I would love to play with him.  "Dad, what do you want to play?"  My reply was simple.  "Go Fish!"
We shuffled the cards really good and dealt out five cards to each of us and the enjoyment began there.  We played several games of this and visited along the way.  It was a fun time and I stored some additional good times in my memory bank of life.  What a life I have.

Memories In The Making

The time we spend with our families is valuable and at times seems extremely hard to come by with the hectic schedules and the various activities of life.  I am the most happy when we can be together and not really do anything at all.
I recall a specific time I had as a boy.  It seemed like a normal day around our house.  My older brother and I were riding our bikes and trying hard to learn to 'pop-a-wheely'.  We would ride up one side of the street and begin to pull up hard on the handle bars of our bikes to lift the front wheel off the ground.  To pop-a-wheely requires some coordination but then to 'ride-a-wheely' is in a complete other realm of imaginary possibilities.  We tried over and over and got to where we could pop a darned good wheely but never being able to master the riding a wheely part.
That time spent with my brother was very simple but enjoyable nonetheless.  It is the quality of time not necessarily quantity.  I have many memories just like that one.  We have tried to keep things simple but it doesn't always work out the way we planned it to be.
The time we spend together will ultimately make some of life's greatest memories.  Keep making them!

We Can Do It

It's a busy time of the year but it also is one of my favorite times. I love Christmas and the holiday cheer that accompanies it. I am grateful for the hustle and bustle that becomes a part of the celebration but I try to keep in perspective the 'Reason for the Season'.
Let me share an experience that illustrates my love for the season. Many years ago I was privileged to be a small part of an act of generosity that my friends and I knew would uplift a needy family. The act was not to pat ourselves on the back rather to bring some joy to a family that would have otherwise not come. Like each one of you it feels good to do something for somebody else. There isn't another feeling quite like it. I was overjoyed on that particular day but every time I think about it a feeling of happiness overcomes me.
We help because we want to bring joy to someone else. We serve because it's the right thing to do. We feel better when we lift the spirits of somebody else.
I am thankful for this time of year and I hope that you will too.

There Are Always 'Firsts'

Tonight was a night of a 'first' that doesn't even seem possible to me.  Danny and I went and watched Brady play in his first church basketball game.  He has been waiting for this time to come for sometime and it finally got here.
There are a lot of boys on the team and everybody got a chance to play and enjoy the game.  I watched Brady and thought about how quickly time has sped by since I was his age and was experiencing the same fun time that he is currently having.
This is just one of many other 'firsts' in life.  I am thankful for these times and I hope that I will always enjoy 'the moment' that these experiences offer.
Life is full of wonderful moments and I challenge everybody who reads this to take the time to enjoy the journey of the many moments that bless your life.
It was a joy to watch the happiness and contentment that Brady wore on his face.  He was in the moment and the memories he made tonight with be life-long ones.

Uplifting Moments

In the LDS church, we have opportunity to visit assigned families every month. It is the responsibility of two men to check on and take care of specific needs that may arise with a particular family. I am assigned a companion who is devout and has the sincere desire to do his duty as a 'home teacher'. I have always had a good example of what a home teacher should do because my dad was faithful in his responsibility as a home teacher.
I visited a home where a single woman lives. My companion was unable to go on this particular visit so I went and made the visit alone. It was a meaningful visit for me. It is amazing to me that there are many things there are to learn and with a little bit of effort, these things are learned and my life is enriched.
My membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is important to me. I value all that there is to learn and the potential growth opportunities that await as I strive to do my duty.
I am thankful for the opportunity to visit those individuals and families that have been assigned to me and my companion.
My life is fuller when I serve those around me. It is through service for my family that my life is as good as it can be. I am so thankful for them.

He Cares For Me

There are the words from a favorite song that explain a few truths that have blessed my life.  As I walked out the door today I couldn't help but think of the love that my Heavenly Father has for me and each of His children.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav'nly Father created for me.
 
He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him rev'rently
For all his creations, of which I'm a part.
Yes, I know Heav'nly Father loves me.

(Words and music: Clara W. McMaster)

Knowledge blesses my life and the specific knowledge that there is a Father who loves me more than I can even conceive.  He gives me a glimpse of that every day that I'm alive.